Method and apparatus for making boxes



Ap i6, 1940;, N. A.. ANDERsoN I METEO-B AND APPARATUS FOR IIAKING BGXES Filed July 19. lesav 'I sheets-snee@ 2z rNvENIoR TIR'ORNEY' l April 16, 1940. N. A.,ANDERsoN ITHOD rLND APPARATUS vFR AKIHG BOXES Filed July 19, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 H/.S ATTORNEY April` 16, 1940. N.` A.. ANDERSON 4 2,197,089

IETHOD ANDV APPARATUS FOR DIKING BOXES Filed July 19. 1938 Silea'rtshslleey 4;

mvfemom H15 AWORNEY April 16, 1940. N. A. ANDERSON 2,197,089

METHOD ARD APPARATUS FOR MAKING BXES Filed July 19, 193e 7 sheets-sheet 5 Hfs `ATTORNEY- mwd@ f s Q1.

k Y f f IN TOR n Na ANDEPsa/v l April 16, 1940. N. A. ANDERSON l ETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING BOXES Filed July is, 193sk 7 Sheets-Sheet S H/s ATTORNEY '7 sheetsfsh'eet 7 H/5 ATTORNEY April 1s, v1940.v

N. A. ANDERSQN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING BQXES Filed Julyr 19, 1958 Patented Apr. 16,vv l

PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING noxEs Nels A. Anderson, Stockton, Calif., assignor to Fibreboard Products, Inc., San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware AppIicanon July I9, 193s, seriaI No. 220,096A

(CI. en -Imrv 43 Claims.

My linvention relates to the' manufacture of breboard boxes of the type which are furnished to the trade in flat or collapsed condition for convenience in shipment and storage; which collapsed boxes are erected to extend the walls as they are needed for use. v

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a method and apparatus for rapidly folding blanks into collapsed boxes.

Another object of the invention is to provide means' for folding the blanks while the latter.

travel in a straight-line path through the machine.

A further, object is to provide mechanism for folding the blanks without. stopping the conveyor which advances the blanks through the machine.

Still further objects of theinvention include the provision of improved means for feeding blanks into the machine; and for applying glue to the blanks; and for stacking the collapsed boxes.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of my invention. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to this disclosure of species of my invention, asl may Kadopt variant embodiments thereof within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the head end of my box making machine, showing the blank feeding mechanism and the rst folding units.

FigureZ is a plan view of a blank from which the collapsed box is folded.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the intermediate portions of the machine, showing the gluing mechanism and subsequent folding means; the left hand end of this view matching the right hand end of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail vertical sectional view of the feed mechanism.

Figure 5 is a detail vertical sectional view of the folding unit.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the .tail end of the machine, showing the stacker mechanism, the left hand end of this view matching the right hand end of Figure 3.

' Figure 'I is a perspective of the collapsed -box produced by my machine; and

Figure 8 is a similar view showingfthe box set up for use.

Figures 9'to 14, 16 and 17, are fragmentary perspective views showing various steps in the folded walls.

folding operation as the blank advances through the machine.

Figure is a vertical sectional view of the gluing Iinit; and

Figure 18 is a detail vertical sectional view of 5 the stacking unit.

f In terms of broad inclusion, the collapsed box formed bythe method and apparatus of my invention is folded from a blank having a bottom l wall, marginal side and end walls, and end flaps l0 on the end walls. My method involves feeding the blank along a path; folding the leading' and trailing marginal walls inwardly and turning portions of the latter walls back; folding the end flaps inwardly; and then folding the other l@ marginal walls inwardly to position the infolded flaps over the back-turned portions of the rst Glue is preferably applied to the back-turned portions of the infolded walls be ,fore the other marginal walls are.folded over. 20

by the method and apparatus of my invention is folded from a blank of suitable sheet material, such as fibreboard, comprising a bottom portion 2 havingmarginal Walls 3 and 4 foldably connected thereto along crease lines 6. For convenience in identifying the marginal walls, the opposing walls 3 are called side walls, and the other marginal Walls are called end walls. It is understood however that this is merely for purposes of illustration, since walls 3 may be ,50 arranged at the ends of a box. End flaps 'l are preferably provided, and are foldably connected to end walls 4 along crease lines 8. Diagonall crease lines il are also preferably arranged at the end portions of side walls 3 to form triangular 45 corner tabs ll.

The collapsed box produced by my machine is shown in Figure '7. In this condition of the box the side walls 3 have been folded inwardly over the bottom wall, with the corner portions or tabs l'l turned back. End aps-'l have been folded inwardly over the end walls, and the lat' ter walls are folded inwardly to position flaps 1 over the back-turned portions Il of the infolded side walls. Flaps l are glued to tabs li by asuitable adhesive |2. Inthis collapsed con- /dition the box is fiat, and may be stacked com- Y l ing side beams I3 along the bed of the machine and4 supported adjacent the ends `by legs I4. The drive mechanism is preferably located at the head end of the machine (Figure 1), and comprises a motor I6 connected to a shaft I1 by a chain drive i8. A suitable overload clutch, not shown, is preferably mounted on shaft l1 to disconnect the motor. should a blank become jammed in the machine.

Blanks are fed into the machine from a chute I9 holding a supply 'stack 2| of the blanks. The forward end of the chute ispivoted for adjust'- ment on a cross rod 22, and the rear end is held up by a supporting rod 23. As better shown in Figure 4, the feed mechanism comprises feed roll 24 fixed for rotation with a shaft 26. A spring pressed roller 21 is pivotally mounted to bear upwardly against the periphery of roll 24 to form ing a cross rod 33, so that when roll 24 is driven the pinion 29 rolls around gear 3| to rotate small roll 28 in the same direction but at a higher rate of speed than the large feed roll 24.

Planet roll 28 projects slightly beyond the periphery of roll 24, and functions to engage a blank in 'stack 2| and advance it under. roll 24.

40 A mank is thus fed forwadiy each time rou 24 makes a revolution. A pivoted block 34 is preferably provided at the base of the chute for adjustment by a screw 36 to furnish a bearing surface for roll 28.v` Roll 28 is also preferably tired with rubber to enhance its frictional engagement with a blank. 'I'he blanks are so stacked in chute |'9 that they are fed sidewise into the machine; that is, with the edge of a side wall leading.

Feed roll shaft 26 is driven through a pair of gears31 from a lower shaft 38, which in turn is connected to a forward shaft 39 by a chain drive 4|. Shaft 39,is driven from the main Vshaft l1 by a chain drive 42.

The blanks from the feed mechanism are carried forwardly by a conveyor or kick chain 43 having its forward sprocket fixed on shaft 39 and Aits rear sprocket loose on shaft 38. Kick chain 43 has lugs 44 spaced at intervals therealong for engaging the rear vedges of'the blanks. There are preferably two of these kick chains, arranged parallel on the bed of the machine, for engaging the blank at spaced points, as shown in Figure 9.

During the time that the blanks are being advanced by kick chains 43, the blanks are preferably held down by rails 46 under which the blanks slide. Suitable guide rails (not shown) are also preferablyprovided along th'e bed of the machine for supporting and guiding the blanks.

Means are preferably provided for adjusting the kickV chains relative to the amount of their separation for accommodating blanks of dif-l ferent size. For this purpose plates 41 are arranged between the chain sprockets, with yoke connections 48 slidable on the shafts and embracing the sprockets, so that when the plates are shifted the kick chains move with them. Plates 41 are adjusted simultaneously by screw rods 49 having reversely threaded portions and provided with squared ends 5| for receiving a hand crank.

Idlers 52 are also preferably mounted on these adjusting plates to keep the kick chains taut.

After reaching the end of the delivery conveyor provided by kick chains 43, the leading edgev of a blank is caught between pairs of feed rolls 53 and 54 of the first folding unit. The lower rolls 54 are freely journaled on a' shaft 56 trans- 'verse o'f the machine bed. Upper feed rolls 53 are ofc-shape, providing arcuate fingers 51 for engaging the blank. In` fact, the nger portions 51 are the only parts of the upper rolls which are effective for engaging the blank; point 58 being the first to engage the blank. This point of engagement is such that the trailing ends of nngers 51 lie along the base portions of the trailing side wall and end tabs, when the roll has turned enoughr to bring these finger ends down, see Figures 5 and 10.

Feed rolls 53 are fixed on a shaft 59 connected for rotation with shaft 39 through a train of gears 6|. Shaft 59 isv urged down by spring 62 bearing against the journal blocks of the shaft,

to resiliently press the feed rolls against the blank. The peripheral speed of feed rolls 53 is preferably somewhat greater than the speedv of delivery chain. 43'so that the blank is pulled ahead of the chain lugsA 44 during the folding operation. By speeding up the blank at this point, the time lost in the folding station is made up. v

Means are provided at the first folding station for folding the trailing sidewall 3 up and inwardly over the bottom wall; and means are also provided for simultaneously folding the trailing end naps 1 inwardly over the end walls 4. As shown in Figures 1, 5 and 10, a series of folding elements or arms 63 areiixed on shaft 56; which shaft is turned back and forth to oscillate the arms by means of a segment rack 64 engaging a pinion on the shaft. Rack 64 is actuated by a cam 66 on a shaft61 which is driven from shaft 39 through suitable gears 68. Os-v cillation of arms 63 is soL timed that they rotate up to fold over the trailing side wall and the end tabs while roll ngers 51 are still engaged with the blank. That is, the wall and iiaps are folded over the ends of fingers 51 tov the positions shown in Figure 10 before the fingers rotate ou 'of engagement with the blank.

Means are also provided for turning back the triangular tab portions of the trailing side.

wall. As best shown in Figure 10, a pair of fixed to turn them back when wall 3 is folded up by arms 63. Rods^1| continue along the bed of the machine and thus serve to hold tabs down after they are turned back; Suitable bars 12 are also provided for pushing down the infolded wall rods 1| are suitably fastened tothe frame of the machine, and are arranged to be engaged by tabs and flaps, and for holding the latter in their 51 rotate away from the lo'wer feed rolls 54` release the pressure on the blank. At this time the blank ceases forward movement and fingers 51 rotate out of engagement with the infolded wall and fiaps.

Bars 12 now come down to complete downward folding of the wall and flaps. and arms 63 rotate back out of the way tovclear the next incoming blank. The slight pause in the forward movement of the blankv at this folding station does not delay 'the progression of the blanks through the machine, because oi' the speedingr up of the blank by feed rolls 53 and 54 prior to the folding operation.

Means are'provided for further advancing thel at the center ofthe machine and then forward to the front shaft 83. There are preferably two sets ol drive chains 84, one set along'eachfside of the machine, paralleling the kick chains. .Instead of driving with chainsr 8.4, suitable shafts could be journaled longitudinally of the machine and beveled gears provided'atthe various cross shafts. The kick chains 43 and'8l of both conveyors run' at the same speed. Kick chains 8| of the second conveyor are also mounted for adjustment by screws 86, in the same manner as described for the first conveyor; and idlers 3T are provided to keep the chains taut.

Means are provided at a. second folding station for folding the leading side wall 3 inwardly over the bottom wall; and means are provided for simultaneously folding the leading end flaps 1 inwardly over the end walls. As shown in Figures 1. 5, 11 and 12, a' series of oscillating arms 88 are fixedon a transverse shaft 89 mounted above the bed of the machine ahead of the first These arms have arcuate fingers' Shaft 89 is slidable vertically in bearings urged downwardly by springs 94 to hold arms 88 normally down in engagement with the blank. As the leading fold lines pass overrolls 92 the arms are lowered to engage fingers 9| with the blank..

This lowering is accomplished by a linkage comprising levers 96 connected to the shaft mounting and actuated by a bell cran-k 91' controlled by a cam 98 on shaft 59.

As soon as fingers 9| engage the blank, arms 88 swing forwardly in time with the blank nfiove-u ment. The forward swinging is effected by rocker arm 99 fixed on shaft 89 and connected by link l| to a bell crank |02 actuated by a cam E03 on shaft 59. Simultaneous with the forward movement of arms 88 suitable levers |08 fixed on a shaft |06 swing up to raise the wall and fiaps tothe positions shown in Figure 11. Levers |04 are controlled by the same cam |03 which oscillates arms 88, by means of a second rocker arm |01 fixed on shaft 89 and connected to crank |08 on shaft |06 bylink |08.

As the blank continues to advance, the leading wall 3 and iiaps 1 are folded inwardlybi' reason of their riding under the folding levers |04, as shown in Figure 12. At this time the triangular tabs Il. of the side wall are turned back by the fixed rods 1|, these rods being the same ones which turned back the tab portions of the trailing wall. After reaching the posi- I tion shown in Figure 12, arm fingers 9| are lifted by cam 98, and the blank continues its forward motion under the pushing action of kick chain lugs 82. Final downward folding of the wall and flaps is accomplishedv by the sliding of these parts under levers |04. When the entire blank has cleared the second folding unit, cam |03 operates to swing arms 88 back and depress levers |04 for receiving the next incoming blank.

From the second foldingstationthe partially folded blank passes to `the gluing unit. During this'period of progression throughthe machine, the folded portions of the blank are held down by suitable rails mounted on the machine frame.

Figure 13 shows a center rail HI bearing down on side walls 3, and pairs of rails'll2 and ||3 bearing down on iiaps 1 and the outer corner portions of the back-turned tabs This arrangement of rails |3 leaves'the major port-ions of tabs Il free for application of glue l2. Side rails l I2 and ||3 are preferably adjustably mounted to take care of different size blanks.

As shown in Figures 3 and l5, the gluing unt lcomprises a gluing roll H4 mounted on shaft ||5. There are a pair of these rolls, and each has glue pads arranged to apply a suitable cement to the back-turned portions Il of the blank. A supporting roll ||'6 is vprovided on shaft 85 under each gluing roll; and the whole shaft assembly is mounted on pivoted arms ||1 pressed upwardly by springs ||8 against a suit-lv adjusting its periphery relative to the transfer roll to control the thickness of glue on the latter and thereby regulate the amount of glue transferred to gluing roll llt. These various rolls of the gluing unit are also arranged in pairs on suitable shafts, and are driven by suitable gears from shaft 85; the glue control rolls |23 be.-

ing driven from the supply roll shaft by a chain Means are provided for shifting the transfer rolls out of engagement with gluing rolls IM at such times when no blank is coming into the gluing unit, so as to prevent glue from building up on the gluing rolls. Transfer rolls ||9,are mounted on a bracket i 28 slidably supported at its forward end and pivoted at the rear end to an armA |30 fixed on shaft 29. This bracket also supports supply rolls |2| and control rolls |23. The whole bracket unit is shifted back by a cam |3| on shaft HE, operating through an arm |32 and pull bar 033 hooked to a depending lever |34 on shaft |29.

Means are also provided for preventing the bracket from shifting back when a blank is passing through lthe gluing unit. For this purpose a finger |35 linked to bar |33 is pivotally mount'- ed to lie in the path of movement of the blank so that a blank lifts the linger to raise bar |33 out of-hooked engagement with lever |34, Bar |33 then merely shifts back and forth Without retracting 'the transfer rolls. Figure 13 shows the blank asit leaves the gluing unit, with glue deposits I2 on the back-turned tabs From the gluing unit the blankv passes through a third folding device, comprising a pair of triangularly-shaped bars |31 arranged along` the bed of .the machine with a lower edge overlying the fold lines along the base portions of end walls 4. See Figure 14. These bars are supported at the rear ends only by supports |38, so that the bars project forwardly freely; and the bars are preferably adjustable transversely of the bed to accommodate blanks of 'different size.

' The end walls are folded up over bars |31 by rods ably follows a helical curve.

The sloping inner surfaces of the bars serve tokeep -tabs from folding up, and thetri-v angular shape of the bars provides lower 'edges 'for bearing down against the fold lines without smearing the glue. Figure 16 shows a blank as it approaches the ends of folding bars |31, and also shows rails |4| under which the folded blank passes. These rails are suitably mounted on the machine, also for adjustment, and serve to force the end walls down to press infolded flaps 1 into sealing engagement with back-turned tabs Figure 17 shows the final folded or collapsed position of the box.

Means are also provided for stacking the collapsed boxes. As shown in Figures 6 and 18, the stacking unit comprises a pair of feed rolls |42 and |43 for delivering a box'from the end of con- 'veyor 8| into stack |44'. Lower roll- |42 is driven .from shaft 63 by a drive chain |46, and upper roll |43 is freely journaled on a shaft held at each end by a pivoted arm |41 urgeddown by spring |48. Feed rolls |42 and |43 are preferably arranged in pairs for engaging the edges of a blank.

'I'he boxes in stack |46 are inclined in overlapping relation and the newly folded boxes are delivered `under the bottom of the stack.

Means are provided for liftingA the stack when a new box'is added. A hooked arm |49 is pivoted to a lever |5| on shaft |52, and this shaft is rocked to lift the arm by linkage |53 connected to a cam |54 on shaft |56; the latter being driven from shaft 83 by chain |51. lHook |58 .at the bottom of arm |49 engages the edge of the bottom carton, so that the rear end of the stack is lifted when arm |49 goes up. After a new box has been shoved under the stack, arm |49 is pulled back by link |59 actuated through shaft |6I and linkage |62 from cam |63 on shaft |56. After being pulled back, arm |49 is lowered by cam |54 and pushed forward by cam |63'to engage the new bottom carton; following which the arm is again elevated to lift the stack.

The collapsed boxes are pushed under the stack by a reciprocating plate |64 actuated by a rack and segment |66 driven by a crank arm |61 on shaft |56. Plate |64 carries a spring pressed dog |66 for engaging the trailing edge of the box after it leaves feed rolls |42 and |43. Stack |44 is fed forwardly step-by-step by a conveyor |69 moved intermittently .by a link I1| connected with crank arm` |61 and worldng through a suitable one-way clutch |12. l The boxes in the stack are held down to'insure tight cementingi of the glued surfaces by a pressure belt |13 on a, frame |14 supported at theforward end only by a vertical guide way |16. Belt frame |14 is preferably jointed at |11 to facilitate lifting the front end of the stack. l' f In order to prevent the stacker unit from operating'when no boxes are being fed into it, a suitable clutch (not shown) is preferably provided on shaft |56 for cutting out the mechanism. This clutch is engaged to operate the stacker unit by a linkage |18 lifted by a finger '|19 when a blank approaches feed rolls |42 and |43.

, I claim:

1. The method of making a'box from a rblank having walls foldably Aconnected to a iriainbody4 panel, which comprises feeding thev blank along a path, folding the trailing and leading Walls ini wardly over said main body panel and turning triangular portions of eachof said leading and trailing wallsback upon itself while said blank is moving in said path and then folding other walls inwardly over the back-turned portions. of said infolded walls.

2Q The method of making a box from a blank having marginal walls foldably' connected to 'a l main body panel, which comprises moving\the blank to a folding station, folding a marginal wall at said station inwardly over said main body panel along a line transverse to the direction of,

' motion and turning portions of saii marginal wall back vupon itself, moving the blank to a'second folding station, and folding a second marginal wall at the second station inwardly over said main body panel along a line transverse to the direction of motion and .turning portions of said second marginal wall backupon itself. f

3. 'I'he method of making a boxfrom a blank having marginal walls foldablyconnected toda main body panel, which comprises moving the blank to a folding station, folding a marginal wall at saidv station inwardly over said main bodyr panel along a line transverse to the -'direction of motionxand turning portions of said marginal wall back upon itself, moving the blankto a second folding station, folding a `second marginal wall, at the second station inwardly over said main body panel along a line transverse to the direction of motion and turningl portions of said second marginal wall back upon itself, and then folding other marginal walls inwardly over the backturned portions of said infolded walls.

4. The method of making a box from a blank having side and end walls foldably connected to ahbottom panel and having en d flaps foldably connected to the end walls, whichcomprises movving a blank along with said side walls transverse the direction of motion, folding the trailing side wall inwardly over the bottom panel and turning triangular portions of said trailing wall back upon itself, folding the trailing end iiaps inwardly upon h having marginal waus foidably eonnecteeto a u main body panel,. comprising means for moving the blank through the machine, means for folding the trailing marginal wall inwardly over said main bodypanel along a line transverse to the direction of motion and for turning portions of said trailing wall back upon itself, and means for folding the leading wall inwardly over said main body panel along a line transverse to the direction of motion and for turning portions of said leading wall back upon itself.

6. A machine for making a box from a blank having marginal walls foldably connected to a central panel, comprising means for moving the blank through the machine, means for folding the'trailing marginal wall inwardly over said central panel-along a line transverse to the direction of motion and for turningportions of said trailing wall back upon itself, means for folding the leading wall inwardly over said central panel along a line transverse to the direction of motion and for turning portions of said leading wall back upon itself, and means for folding other marginal walls inwardly over theback-turned por-` tions of said infolded walls.

' 7. A machine for making a box from a blank having side and end walls foldably connected to a bottom panel and having end aps foldably connected to the end walls, comprising means for moving the blank to afolding station, means at said station for folding a side wall inwardly upon the bottom panel along a line transverse to the direction of motion and for turning portions of the side Wall back upon itself, means at said sta-` tion for folding the adjacent end flaps inwardly upon the end Walls, means for moving the blank to a second folding station, means at the latter station for folding another side wall inwardly .upon the bottom'panel along a line transverse to the direction of motion and for turning portions of said sidewall back upon itself, and means at said second station for folding the adjacent end flaps inwardly upon the end Walls.

8. A method of making boxeswith all the walls folded inwardly which includes preparing box blanks with the Walls foldably connected to the main body, one opposite pair of said walls having triangular portions defined by diagonal fold vlines on each end thereof, the other opposite pair having'sealing flaps foldably connected at each end, moving said blanks with the last named walls parallel to the direction of motion, and,

while folding the rearward wall forwardly and the forward wall rearwardly, folding the respective triangular portions thereof reversely, and after folding the rearward sealing flaps forwardly and the forward sealing iiaps rearwardly, ap-

plying adhesive between the triangular portions and the sealing flaps, folding the remaining opposite pair of walls inwardly to voverlie the main body and thereafter applying pressure to bring about adhesion between the triangular portions and a portion of the sealing flaps.

' 9. A methodof making infolded knock down boxes from blanks with one pair of opposite walls having angular lines of fold defining triangular portions therein, and the other pair of opposite walls having sealing flaps hingedly connected thereto, which includes moving said blanks along with said rst mentioned pair of walls transverse to the direction of motion, and folding said firstmentioned walls inwardly while folding the triangular portions of said first mentioned walls reversely to the direction of folding of the respective walls to which said triangular portions are attached, and also folding the sealing flaps in to overlie the walls to which they are articulated. applying adhesive to one of the meeting surfaces of the flaps and triangular portions and. while retaining allfolded portions in folded position,

v folding in the remaining pair of opposite walls to overlie previously folded walls and portions thereof as well as the main body, and thereafter applying pressure to secure adhesion.

l0. The method of making infolded knock down boxes from blanks having one pair of opposite walls With angular lines of fold defining triangular portions therein, and the other pair of opposite walls having sealing flaps hingedly connected thereto, which comprises moving said blanks along, with said last named walls parallel to the direction of motion, folding insaid rst named walls to overlie the main body panel with the triangular portions thereof foldedv back upon said first named walls, and after having likewise folded inwardly said sealing iiaps, retaining all folds in folded position, applying adhesive to one of the contacting surfaces of angularly folded portions and sealing flaps thereof, folding in.

wardly said last named walls and applying pressure thereafter to secure adhesion between said contacting surfaces of said angular portions and sealing flaps.

11. 'I'he method of making infolded knock down boxes which includes folding in `all four walls while the blank is conveyed in one position n in relation to its direction of motion, the infolding of one pair of opposite walls being accompanied by the foldingin a reverse direction of triangular end portions of said walls whereby said portions overlie the walls of .which they form a part, and the infolding of the remaining pair of opposite walls being preceded .by the folding in.of corner flaps articulated thereto'.

`12. The method of making a box from a blank, which comprises moving the blank along a path, folding a wall of the blank forwardly in the direction of motion along a line of fold transverse to the direction of motion, turning a part of said `wall in the opposite direction, and folding another wall of the blank in a direction transversely of the blank travel.

13. The method of making a box from a blank, which comprises moving a blank along a path, folding a trailing Wall ofthe blank forwardly in the'direction of motion along a line of fold transverse `to the direction of motion, turning a portion of said trailing wall in the opposite direction, folding a leading wallof the blank in said oppositedirection, and turning a portion of the leading wall in the direction of blank travel.

14. The method of making infolded knock down boxes which comprises moving a blank having articulated portions, infolding one pair of opposite articulated portions along lines transverse to the direction of motion of the blank, and infolding the other pair of opposite articulated portions along lines parallel to the direction of motion of the blank, said first mentioned infolding including the diagonally articulated parts of 6 f along in timed relation with said met menanea pair of walls transverse to the direction of motion, means for infolding said mst-mentioned walls to overlie the main body panel and means for folding said triangular portions back upon the outside thereof, means for folding sealing flaps in to overlie the walls to which they are articulated, means to apply adhesive to one of the meeting surfaces of said folded flapsI and said folded triangular portions, subsequent means to fold inwardly said remaining pair of opposite walls, and means for applying pressure to assure adhesion. v

16, In a folding and gluing machine, means for advancing a blank, means for folding a forward wall rearwardlyof the direction 'of motion along a line transverse to the direction of motion, and means for folding in a reverse direction triangular portions thereof, means for folding forwardly a trailing wall along a line transverse to the direction of motion, and'means for folding backwardly triangularf portions thereof.

l.and means to retain said folded walls and ytriangular portions in folded `position during the further travel of said blank.

17. In a machine for making a box from a i blank, means for conveying a blank in a unidiposite walls having sealing flaps articulatedto rectional path, means along said path for folding a wall of the blank along aline of fold transverse to said path and turning part of said wall back upon itself along an angular line, and means along said path for folding another portion of the blank over said backwardly turned part.

`18. In a machine for making infolded knock dow-n boxes from cut and` creased blanks'having 'a main body panel, one pair of opposite walls having angular lines of'fold therein defining triangular portions and the remaining pair of opthe `ends thereof, means for conveying said blanks with said first pair of walls transverse to the direction of conveyance moving means acting upon the outer surface of the first pair of walls to effect an infolding action on said walls, coordinated with other means acting upon the inner surface of triangular end portions of said walls whereby upon completion of saidA firsty named action said lwalls are folded in over the main body portion and said triangular end portions are folded back upon said walls.

19. In' a folding and gluing machine, means for advancing the blank, means for folding inwardly one pair of opposite walls valong 'lines transverse to the direction of motion of the blank, and means to hold back the ends of said walls as said walls are being folded.

20. Ina machine of the character described.

means for conveying a blank with one pair 'of opposite walls transverse to the direction Aof travel and having diagonal lines of fold defining portions at the ends thereof, means for folding saidI walls inwardly and means for folding said portions reversely along the said diagonal lines.

21. .The method of making infolded knock down boxes which'includes moving a `blank and folding apair of opposite walls inwardly along lines transverse to the direction of motion of theA blank .as` end portions of said walls are folded reversely of the direction of folding of respective walls. I

. 22. The method of making a box` from a blank, which comprises moving the blank, foldingv inwardly one pair of oppositewalls along lines transverse to the direction of motion and simultaneously folding portions vof said walls reverseiy I along diagonal lines.

23. In a machine for formingv boxes from blanks having a main panel and a pair of opposite walls articulated thereto along lines transverse to the movement of said blank in said ma chine, primary movement means acting upon an unfolded portion of said blank, folding means acting upon said blank to fold over at least one .of said wall portions, and secondary movement timed sequence therewith for folding over said walls on said transverse lines, fixed turn back means to engage triangular end portions of said wallsduring said folding and fold said portions inthe opposite direction, and means acting onv said blank to prevent transverse buckling thereof during said folding operations,

25. In a machine for making knock down boxes, two independent conveying means acting successively to move a blank along in one direction of motion, the first of said means introduc-l ing the blank into a primary folding operation,

-and the second of said conveying means engaging said blank on a folded portion, and means for effecting secondary yfolding operations on other blank portions.

26. In a machine for making knock down boxes, two independent conveying means acting successively to move `a blank along in one direc-l..

tion of motion, the first of said means `introducing the blank into primary folding operations, said primary folding operations includingfolding along lines transverse the direction oflmotion, and the second of said means engaging said bla'nk onv a folded portionwas secondary folding operations on other blank portions are effected,

said secondary,y operations including foldingA along lines parallel to the direction of motion.:

27. Ink a machine for making knock down boxes, means for moving along a blank rwith one` pair of walls transverse to the direction of mo tion, said walls having diagonal lines of fold defining end portionsl thereof, moving -means to fold said walls inwardly, and stationary means so shaped and positioned as to engage the end portions and hold same back against the movement of said walls as said walls are being folded. 28. In a machine for making knock downy boxes, means for moving the blank, moving means forl folding awall on a line transverseto the direction of movement, in combination with stationary means to deect backwardly along a l diagonal line an end of said wall as the wall is folded.

y 29. In a machine boxes, means for conveying a blank withone pair of opposite walls articulated along lines transverse to the direction of motion thereof and havfor making knock Idown l ing triangular portions at the ends thereof, means to fold said walls inwardly and means to deflect said portionsbackwardly as said walls are folded inwardly.

30. Al l having a main panel and side and end walls, said end walls-'having sealing flaps, which comprises moving the blank in one direction of ymotion and u rocessl ofmaking boxes from blanks over upon the main panel said side walls along fold lines transverse to the direction of motion of the blank, and folding back on said side walls triangular end portions of said walls by means of fixed folding means, and causing folding means to hold down the folded portions of said walls during continued motion of said blank until said folded portions pass beneath a fixed hold down extending in said direction of motion.

31. A process of making boxes from blanks having a main panel and side and end walls, sai'd end walls having corner flaps, which comprises moving the blank in one direction of motion and by folding means` during said motion, folding over upon the main panel said side walls along fold lines transverse to the direction of motion of the blank, and folding back on said side walls trianguiar end portions of said walls by means of fixed folding means. and causing folding means to hold down the folded portions of said walls during continued motion of said blank until said folded portions pass beneath a fixed hold down extending in said direction of motion, also folding over said end flaps, and while so maintaining said walls in folded condition, during a continuation of said motion, folding over the other pair of opposite walls with the interposition of adhesive between the said end flaps and the said triangular portions.

32. In a machine for making knock down boxes, blank moving means, means to fold a blank wall upwardly along a line transverse to the direction of blank movement, a shaped stationaryy member to deflect backwardly along a diagonal line one end portion of said blank wall so moved upwardly thereagainst, said stationary member thereafter serving to retain said wall and portion in folded position.

33. In a machine for making knock down boxes, in combination with folding meansmoving means to grip unfolded blank portions as the forward wall is folded backwardly along a line transverse to the direction of motion of the blank and the rearward wall is folded forwardly along a line transverse to the direction of motion of the blank.

34. In a machine for forming boxes from blanks, having a main panel and a pair of opposite walls articulated thereto along lines transverse to the movement of said blank in said machine, means for moving said blank, moving folding means acting on said blankl to fold over said walls on said transverse lines, and moving means effective during the operation of said folding means to grip said blank on other portions than on said walls to prevent dsalignment of said blank.

35. In a machine for forming boxes from blanks having a main panel and a pair of opposite walls articulated thereto along lines transverse to the movement of said blank in said machine, means for moving said blank, moving folding means acting on said blank to fold over said walls on said transverse lines, and moving means effective during the operation of said folding means and engaging said blank elsewhere than on said walls and located so as to be effective during the folding of both of said walls to prevent disalignment of said blank and to assist in moving said blank.

36. In a machine for making knock down boxes, means for moving a blank along in one direction, and means for making six distinct folds transverse to the direction of motion, two of said folds being along lines defining opposite walls and four .and means for folding the trailing-three of said adjoining panels inwardly land forwardly of the direction of motion at the opposite edge.

38. In a machine for vmaking knock down boxes from blanks having slots on two opposite edges, defining three distinct iiaps at each of said edges comprising a central wall and adjoining sealing flaps, means for advancing said blanks with said edges transverse to the direction of motion, and means for folding thel leading three of said adjoining fiaps inwardly and rearwardly of the direction of motion at one of said edges, and means v. for folding the trailing three of said adjoining flaps inwardly and forwardly of the direction of motion at the opposite edge, the infolding of said central walls including a reverse folding of the triangular corner portions thereof.

39. In a machine for making knock down boxes from-blanks having slots on two opposite edges, defining three distinct flaps at each of said edges comprising a central wall and adjoining sealing flaps, means for advancing said blanks with said edges transverse to the direction of motion, and

means for folding the leading three of said adjoining flaps inwardly and rearwardly of the direction of motion at one of said edges, and means `for folding the trailing three of said adjoining iiaps inwardly and forwardly of the direction of motion at the opposite edges, the infolding of said central walls including a5 reverse folding of end portions'thereof along diagonal lines, and thereafter folding in the remainingv pair of walls parallel to the direction of motion.

40. In a machine for making knock down boxes from blanks having slots on two opposite edges defining three distinct' panels at each of said edges comprising a central wall and adjoining sealing flaps, means for advancing said blanks y with said edges transverse to the direction of motion, and means for folding the leading three of said adjoining panels inwardly and rearwardly of the direction of motion at one of said edges and means for folding the trailing three of said adjoining panels inwardly and forwardly of the direction of motion at the opposite edge, and after folding end portions of said central walls reversely to lie facing upwardly on said infolded Walls, applying adhesive to one of the meeting surfaces of said triangular portionsl and said infolded sealing fiaps and thereafter folding in the remaining pair of walls.

41. In a machine for making knock down boxes from blanks having a main body panel, one pair of opposite walls having diagonal lines of fold 65 defining triangular end portions thereof and the remaining pair of opposite walls having corner flaps articulated thereto, means for moving said blanks along with said first mentioned walls 'transverse to the direction of motion, and mov- 70 8 n Y, annoso 42. In a machine for making knock down boxes. moving means adapted to fold in one pair of opposite walls along lines transverse to the direction of motion of a blank` and separate moving means to fold in two pairs of opposite sealing aps along lines transverse to the direction of blank movable along a path. a pair of elements spaced along said path and over which opposite marginal portions of the blank may be folded.'

means for moving both of said elements in the` direction of blank movement, and means for moving one of said elements in the opposite direction.

NEI-S A. ANDERSON. 

